When Sorry Is Not Enough (9 page)

Whilst travelling up town to acquaint the new love in her life, Victor Castello, about the happenings of the morning, Josie began to wonder if severing her ties with Sally had been a good thing for Sally and was it necessary? After all Sally had trusted her to run the Four Marys for over three years now. Under her forward-thinking leadership, as she saw it, it was now flourishing as it had never done before. More money was coming over the bar. The evening restaurant was what the well-heeled clientele called ‘a gourmet heaven’. It was just a pity that Sally never gave her the credit she thought she deserved.

As the bus whisked her along she told herself that the time had come for her to forget Sally. The opportunity that was now presenting itself to her only came along once in a lifetime. She had now to consider what was best for herself – without a doubt that was being with Victor and assisting him with running his uptown business. She sighed with contentment when she remembered how thrilled she was that Victor, who was just too busy to go a-courting, had answered her lonely hearts advert. She was still wallowing in the wonder of the luck and romance she was now experiencing that she nearly passed the Atholl Crescent bus stop that she should alight from.

Before crossing the road to William Street she sat down on a garden bench and tidied herself up. She just had to create the right first impression on the people Victor employed. So just a little bit of lipstick, a quick brush of her hair and then a fine skoosh behind the ears of exotic Chanel No. 5 and she felt quite ready to meet her future relatives and staff.

The first thing that she noticed when she started to meander along William Street was the ‘Alfredo’s Italian Restaurant’ sign that was jutting out from the wall. She just couldn’t help but gulp as the feeling of elation engulfed her. The thought that she should pinch herself awake because she was sure she was in a wonderful dream also overtook her.

She was still experiencing the delicious pain of her nails digging into her palms when she arrived at the entrance to the premises. Breathing in deeply she hesitated before opening the door. Through the adjacent window she took note that the tables were dressed in red and white gingham checked table cloths and napkins. This pleased her because wasn’t Sally always saying that the mark of an upper-class eatery was whether they had cloth napkins and not the paper ones that were now being widely used in more common establishments.

Two customers wishing entry to the restaurant meant she had to open the door and step inside. Immediately an Italian-looking older woman, whom she judged was an employee, walked towards her and asked if she wished a table for one or was she being joined by others? Josie shook her head. She wasn’t quite sure what to do as there was no sign of Victor. This was causing her a problem. Would it be right, she wondered, to tell the hired help that she was here because she would soon be their boss? Maybe not. Surely that was information that Victor should give them. So, smiling, she said, ‘Table for one, please.’

She had been consulting the menu for over five minutes when her attention was drawn to the assistant who had shown her to her table and was now hovering in the background.

Josie thought that this woman, whom she was convinced was an employee of the business, was the epitome of an Italian female – bonny face and voluptuous figure that in this lady’s case had gone to seed due to several pregnancies, but her smiling countenance still exuded a zest for living.

Realising that Josie was gazing intently at her, the assistant thought this attention was because Josie was ready to order. ‘Have you made up your mind what you would like for your lunch?’ the woman asked in an unmistakable continental accent.

‘Yes. Yes,’ Josie stuttered, ‘I’ll have the minestrone soup and some garlic bread. And that will do me just fine.’

The woman was about to walk away when Josie asked, ‘How long have you worked in this establishment?’

‘Longer than I wish to remember,’ the woman chuckled. ‘Oh yes, I was but a child when we came over from Italy and my father started up this business. Father says he’s too old now to live in the cold winters here so he’s taken himself back to Italy where he can sun himself every day.’ The assistant stopped and sighed before adding, ‘My darling husband and I run the business now.’ The woman began to giggle. ‘With the help of our sons – our two wonderful boys.’

Josie gasped.
Good grief
, she thought,
this lady is Victor’s mother. I’m going to have another mother-in-law
. She had never considered that Victor would have a family. Of course that was the Italian way. It was a family set up … a family business that Victor, who was so infatuated with her, was inviting her into.

Josie had finished her lunch and still she was marvelling at having discovered that Victor wanted her to be part of his family. How brave he was. Normally he would have been expected to select a bride from within the Edinburgh Italian community but he was his own man and he had picked his partner himself.

The lunchtime trade was coming to a close so Josie decided she would just go now and try to contact Victor later in the evening. She smiled warmly to the woman who had served her. Again she scrutinised the lady. Obviously she was like herself and had given birth to her boys when she was in her early teens and that was the reason, also like herself, she had worn well.

Josie was now clear of the restaurant but she squinted back through the window to assess the woman again.
Yes
, she thought,
you’re wearing so well you could have been mistaken for Victor’s much older sister … but then not only were you possibly married young, I bet you never required to scrimp and save like I have
. Josie let out a short cackle as she looked down at her work-worn hands. Rubbing her palms over each other she conceded that probably the woman had never been expected to assist in the business other than to help out with the lunchtime trade.

Having left William Street far behind Josie decided that she would go into the Caledonian Hotel – her and Victor’s special place. When she arrived there she would sit herself down on their special settee and order a cocktail. To be truthful she really didn’t require any alcoholic stimulant as she was still intoxicated with all she had discovered at Alfredo’s.

On her arrival at the Caledonian Hotel the doorman not only smiled at her but he also saluted.
And so he should
, she thought, while stepping lightly through the revolving doors
. After all, I am a regular, valued customer here now
.

To her dismay the special couch was occupied. She observed that one of the trespassers was an older lady whose face had obviously been subjected to being plastered in excessive, heavy make-up which only served to have her look pathetic. Her companion’s face, on the other hand, was hidden from view because of the subtle lighting.

Poor Josie had no other alternative than to find herself another seat which she did in the far dark corner.

Her cocktail had just been delivered to her when in through the revolving doors came Victor’s mother. Immediately Josie thought the woman had found out who she was and that she wished to join her and make her welcome to the family. Jumping up, Josie waved to the woman but she ignored Josie and leapt over the floor to the settee that Josie had wanted to sit on. Once there she swung her handbag up in the air before she brought it down on the head of the older woman who screamed out in protest.

Josie, who was used to sorting out squabbles in the Four Marys, immediately sprung towards the fracas. However, she drew up abruptly when the gentleman companion of the recently assaulted woman stood up. It was none other than Victor – her Victor – this poor woman’s son.

‘Victor,’ Josie gasped, ‘what’s going on? Why has your mother assaulted this woman?’ Josie’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘Oh no, your mum is trying to keep you solely for me.’

Immediately Victor’s mother spun around to face Josie and she slapped her hard across the face before yelling, ‘His mother! Listen, darling, I am Anna, his long-suffering wife, and he must be getting desperate if all he can now attract are old has-beens like you two.’

Josie looked pleadingly at Victor. He shrugged. She began to cry. ‘Don’t you realise, Victor, I have given up everything for you,’ she sniffed before tears cascaded down. ‘Even said goodbye to Sally and that means I have no job now.’ Josie was becoming hysterical and could only blubber, ‘Why did you lead me on, dear?’

Victor shrugged again. ‘Suppose I thought I might get lucky this time and escape from Anna,’ he said, pointing to his wife. ‘Josie, I know you won’t believe me but I’m sorry it didn’t work out between us.’ He paused before cruelly adding, ‘And to be truthful it was so good for my confidence when you swallowed all my chat-up lines.’

The management had now arrived in force. All four of the people involved in the rumpus were asked to leave and not return to the prestigious hotel ever again.

‘I’d drink to that,’ screamed Anna. ‘I’m fed up coming in here to prise a long line of dried-up bimbos off his arm.’ She stopped, and looking directly at Victor and indicating to him with a jerk of her thumb to get moving, she spat, ‘And if he ever does darken your doors again be sure to ring me and I’ll then arrange for him to sing soprano for ever more – believe me I will.’

Once the party were out of the hotel Victor and the other woman he had duped made a hasty getaway. Josie was left looking at Anna whose face had now become a picture of misery. ‘Look, Anna, I may call you Anna, can I?’ Anna nodded. ‘I’m so sorry. I never knew he had a wife. If I had I would never have got involved with him – never hurt you.’

Anna sniffed. ‘Oh. You’re sorry, are you? Well the number of times I’ve been told that not only by the stupid women he hoodwinked but also by him.’ Brushing tears from her eyes Anna hesitated before saying, ‘And know something? Everyone being sorry for me is no longer
bloody
good enough.’

Josie nodded. ‘I can see that. Look,’ she now held out her hand to Anna, ‘would you let me be your friend so I can make amends with you?’ Anna nodded. Josie then added, ‘Good. Now how about we stroll along Princes Street and then go into Jenners for afternoon tea.’ Anna seemed reluctant so Josie quickly added, ‘I could also let you enjoy watching me eat a large portion of humble pie there.’

Anna nodded before linking arms with Josie and laughing raucously.

Leith has always been a town of two faces. There are the areas where the manual and working classes are housed. In these schemes mothers strive to give their children a good life and encourage them to do well at school as that will be their passport to the more prosperous areas where the higher in the pecking order – the professional and successful business people – reside.

Sally had never said to Bobby how proud she was when he bought his first house in upper-class Craighall. She felt that somehow this move proved that she had been a good mother and had provided and educated her children better than most. No one could ever have dreamt that Harry dumping her for traitor Maggie had been such a blow to Sally’s self esteem. From that unhappy day, when the feet had been so ruthlessly cawed from her, she had spent her every living minute in trying to redress the balance. Bobby becoming a solicitor and then going on to reside in a large semi-detached villa in Craighall made Sally feel that everyone could now see the family was respectable and was going up in the world. Indeed she could now walk with her head held high.

Any credit that should have been given to Bobby’s wife Lois for his advancement into the prestige property market where she was earning a good living, Sally chose not to acknowledge.

It was true to say there was not open war between Sally and Lois but there was always an undercurrent between them. Sally would tell you it was all due to Lois being a cold upper-class snob but in truth Sally had never given the lassie a chance.

From their first meeting Sally had put up barriers. Truth was Sally did not wish to lose Bobby. She had always thought that because he was, as she thought, physically weak he would always be with her – always need her. Never did she imagine that at university he would meet someone like Lois who would only see what Bobby was capable of and would turn a blind eye to his disability. In fact Lois could become quite annoyed if you even suggested that there was any physical weakness in Bobby.

Right now Sally was sitting in a car being driven by her brother Luke and they were going to Craighall for dinner at Bobby and Lois’ home.

This meeting had been arranged because Bobby had refused to get involved in helping his grandmother, Flora, with a complicated property matter. His utter selfishness, according to Sally, had put her in the awkward position of her having now to beg her daughter-in-law, Lois, an expert on property matters, for her assistance.

When they arrived in Duke Street Sally jumped out so she could collect a bouquet she had ordered from the florist there. On returning to the car she placed the flowers on the back seat. Luke turned to look at the creation. ‘My, my,’ he observed, ‘must be Christmas. That lot,’ he continued, pointing to the flowers, ‘must have cost you a fortune and all for a lassie you really want to buy a wreath for.’

‘Don’t talk rubbish, Luke,’ Sally countered vehemently. ‘I’m only trying to build bridges.’

Luke turned back and started up the car. ‘Good, because that makes a change from you burning them where Lois is concerned.’

Bobby had been hovering in the bay window of the drawing room and the moment the car drew up in his driveway he came out to greet them. ‘Nice to see you, Mum, and you too, Uncle Luke,’ he enthused. ‘Come away inside. Lois is in the kitchen just finishing a sauce or something.’

Sally handed the bouquet over to Bobby who had ushered them into a spacious drawing room. ‘Thank you, Mum, I’ll take them to Lois in the kitchen.’

Seating himself in a large armchair that was so comfortable it felt like being wrapped in an old dressing gown, Luke allowed his eyes to take in the ambience of the room. Even from his first glance he could see that Lois, in addition to being a very intelligent woman, also had breeding and taste. The decor of the room had that old world charm about it. It was a comfortable place to be in. The soft furnishings were obviously the very best of chintz and had been made to measure in Jenners world famous department store. Like old money, which Lois obviously was, the room was not ultra tidy. Luke noted that Sally too was taking in the surroundings and he wondered how she was feeling as there was nothing at all about Bobby’s home she could find fault with.